Desola Adeoye, a 14-year-old girl, committed suicide yesterday in the Shogunle community of Lagos State.
According to reports, Desola, who has suffered recurrent domestic violence in the hands of her father, Sunday Adeoye, and his wife, allegedly committed suicide by drinking insecticide to escape torture.
It was reported that trouble began when Desola returned from her summer school lesson and her stepmother began threatening her, saying that when her father returned, he would pounce on her.
Desola, who was concerned about the threat, was discovered to have sneaked out of the house, committed suicide by drinking the insecticide contained in the house.
She was reportedly rushed to a nearby private hospital, where she was confirmed dead.
On hearing the news of her demise, her father quickly retrieved her lifeless body from the hospital and took it back home to bury her secretly.
His plan, however, was foiled by police agents from Shogunle Divisional Police Station, who had been tipped off by neighbors.
Speaking to newsmen, a neighbor, who drew the attention of a non-governmental organization called Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, ACVPN, stated that “the late Desola and her two younger sisters were regularly subjected to domestic violence by their biological father and stepmother every time they made a mistake.”
Speaking further, the neighbor explained that Desola committed suicide for fear of being beaten by her father all the time.
“Shogunle Community Development Association in Oshodi, CDA, had, on numerous occasions, cautioned their father and stepmother to stop the physical abuse unleashed on their children, especially late Desola Adeoye.”
In response to the news, Mr. Ebenezer Omejalile, Chief Operating Officer of ACVPN, urged the Lagos State government, the Nigeria Police, and the Nigeria Bar Association to rescue the couple’s surviving two children and to seek justice for the late Desola.
